Building construction



ocnz'i, 1931. J, F LOUCKS 1,828,842

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 18, 1926 V v/ EJ/WI M MW Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

. JAMES'F. LOUCKS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO DETROIT STEEL PRODUCTS OOM-y PANY, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Application lcd October 18, 1926. Serial No. 142,322.

This invention relates to building constructions and more particularly to constructions embodying sheet met-al units and which units are adapted, when assembled, produce a light but strong metal oundatlon for roofs, ioors, partitions, etc.

It is the general urpose and object oi the invention to provi e a construction unit of the character referred to which will enable equal to the dlstance between the centers of roofs, floors partitions, etc., embodying sheet metal oun ations, to be produced `at a relatively low cost; to provide aconstruction which will enable the units to be assembled quickly and conveniently, in a manner analogous to shingling or weather-boardlng and with the preservation of leak-proof joints; also to provide an extremely strong construction of such sheet-metal structure, as well as to provide a structure, so formed as to enable it to aord an eiiicient support for sheets of insulating cementitious or fibrous material. The invention is in some respects similar to that covered by the patent to Harry Gillett and myself, issued February 23, 1926, No. 1,574,586.' l. l

In the drawing forming part hereof, Fig. lrepresents a perspective sectional view of a portion of a sheet metal unit constructed in accordance with my invention; Fi s. 2 and 3 details in inverted perspective o the top and bottom of two of such units, prior to overlapping the same; Fig. 4 a detail in sectional elev'ation of the two lunits shown in Figs. 2 and 3, prior to overlapping the same; Fig., 5 a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the two units overlappedy and Fig. 6 a detail in transverse section through a roof structure embodying my invention.

Describlng the various parts by reference characters, A denotes one of the units, the same consisting of a fiat metal sheet 1, to one surface ofgwhich are secured, preferably by spot-welding, hollow triangular ribs B. Each of these ribs has its base 2 remote from the body of the sheet, and the convergent sides 3 are provided each with a lateral flange 4 by which the rib may be conveniently spotwelded to thesheet l. The sheet may be of any desired length and the ribs 2 of proper dimensions to constitute the supporting beams for the sheet. One edge of the sheet 1 is bent down, forming a flange 5, while its opposite edge is secured to the nearer iange 4 only of the rib B at such edge, exposing the longitudinal slot 6 between the flanges 4 of such rib for the insertion of the flange 5 of the adjacent sheet, as shown in Fig. 6. It will be noted that' the distance between the flange 5 and the adjacent rib B is approximately two adjacent` ribs. This will insure equidistant spacing between the ribs on the connecting units. y

j In using my sheet-metal support for roofing or flooring pur oses, the ribs B may rest upon joists or simi ar supports, one of which is indicated at 7, being secured thereto by nails 8, which are conveniently driven into the joists through the ribs B. When a course has been completed by assembling side-by-side a sullicient number of the sheets or units A, the next succeeding course of sheets or units may be assembled with the one just laid, by overlapping the ends of the sheets of one l'course upon the adjacent ends of the corresponding sheets of the next course; Assuming that the courses are used for roofing purposes, the ribs B will preferably be ofthe 'same length as the sheets 1, but will be' secured thereto. in such manner that one end of each rib will project beyond one end of the sheet with the other end a corresponding distance behind or overhung by the opposite end of the sheet.

vgling construction is shown in detail in Figs.

2-5 inclusive. It is preferred to provide the -shingling e'ect in the courses byV having the ends'of the sheets or units A in an upper course overhang at their lower ends the ribs B thereon, while the ribs project beyond the This will enable the sides 'of the projecting parts of the ribs to be sprung upper ends of such sheets or unitsas indicated in Figs. 2 5. rllhe upper ends of the ribs on a lower course or sheet are narrowed by bending the base wall 2 upwardly or toward the body of the sheet and by crimping the sides 3 toward each other, as shown at 2a and 3l. This provides a. narrow extension B for each rib which extension is of less height or depth-than the depth of the lbody of the rib B, thus enabling such narrowed extension .to be inserted into the body of the rib B on the cooperating sheet in the course thereabove. The flanges 4 are cut od, preferably at about the junction of the narrowed extension B of each rib with the body thereof. 'llhis enables the tongues or projections B to be inserted in the ends of the ribs on the corresponding sheet in the course thereabove with the lower end of such upper sheet overlapping the upper end of the sheet carrying such projections and with the flanges on such upper and lower sheets to abut.

Aft-er the desired area has been covered by the sheet metal units l, a coating 9' of asphalt or other suitable adhesive agent may be applied to the upper surfaces of the units, after which a coating l0, preferably of insulating material such as sheet cork or a more or less heavy liber sheet niade from sugar caneV and known to the trade as Celotex, is applied to the asphalt coating and pressed down on top of the units l, whereby the coating or covering l0 is adhesively united to the sheet metal units. ll here the material of the coating 10 is apt to be ad'eeted by weather conditions a coating 11 of any standard waterproofing inaterial may be applied thereto.

One of the great advantages of my invention is that the metal sheets l may be produced quickly and cheaply by an ordinary rolling operation and that the ribs B may also be produced by a rolling operation, the ribs being secured to the sheets 1 in a rapid and economical manner bythe spot-welding operation referred to hereinbefore, such operation also enabling the ribs to be spaced apart any desired distance upon the rnetal sheets l, without the necessity for the use of special rolls to produce sheets having such differently-spaced ribs thereon. The shape of the ribs results in great strength for the sheets br units, the ribs serving as non-collapsible loadsustaining beams or trusses when resting on joists or purlins. This enables nie to employ very light-gage rnetal 'forthe sheets of the units and heavier-gage metal for the ribs, and

without the necessity for relying upon the strength of the tireproong or other material applied thereto.

In the form of rny invention shown herein, each sheet or unit comprises a continuous flat surface, enabling lne to use a covering of sheet-insulating material having `practically no inherent strength, without danger of Leaasea the same breaking through into the hollow ribs when subjected to moving weights.

Having thus described my invention, what ll claim is:

l. A sheet metal foundation for building construction, the same comprising a continuous metal sheet having a plurality of flanged hollow triangular sheet metal reenforcing ribs, all of the ysame shape secured to and projecting from one face thereof, a Hang-e of one of said ribs projecting beyond the edge of said sheet and adapted to serve as a support for an adjacent sheet.

2. A. sheet metal foundation for building construction, the same comprising a continuous metal sheet, and a plurality of spaced hollow triangular sheet metal reenforcing ribs each side of which is provided with a dange by nieans of which the said ribs are secured to one side of said sheet, the said ribs projecting beyond one end of the said sheet and having their opposite ends behind or overhung by the opposite end of the sheet.

3. A sheet metal foundation for building construction, the saine comprisinga continuous metal sheet, and a plurality of spaced hollow triangular sheet meta-l reenforcing ribs each side of which is provided with Harige by means of which the said ribs are secured to one side of said sheet, the said sheet having at one lateral edge thereof a flange extending substantially parallel with the rib extending adjacent thereto and having a rib secured to the opposite edge, with a slot formed between the sides of said rib, and one of the danges of said rib extending beyond such edge.

d. A sheet metal foundation for building construction, the same comprising a continuous metal sheet, and a plurality of spaced hollow triangular sheet metal reenforcing ribs secured to one side of the said sheet, the said ribs projecting beyond one end of the said sheet and having their opposite ends behind or overhung by the opposite end of the sheet.

5. A sheet metal foundation for building construction comprising a continuous :metal sheet having spaced hollow triangular ribs secured thereto and projecting from one side thereof, the ribs extending beyond one end of the said sheet and having their opposite ends behind or overhung by the opposite end of the sheet, one end oil each rib being contract/ed whereby it may be inserted into the open end of a rib on a like adjacent sheet 6. A sheet metal foundation for building construction comprising a continuous inetal sheet, a plurality of spaced hollow triangular sheet metal ribs the sides of which are l provided each with a flange whereby the ribs are secured to one side of said sheet, the said 'ribs projecting beyond one end of the said sheet and having their opposite ends behind or overhung by the opposite end of the sheet,

each rib having its projecting end. contracted of said sheet and having a flange positioned for insertion into the open end of a'rib on to support an adjacent sheet. a like adjacent sheet, and each rill); alsodhaly- In ttestlmony whereof, I hereunto aix my ing an end portion projecting eyon t e slgna ure. 5 flanges thereof to facilitate the telescoping/ JAMES F LOUCKS- 70 connection between the ribs on adjacent units. 7 A sheet metal foundation for building construction comprising a continuous metal sheet, a plurality of spaced hollow triangular 10 sheet :metal ribs the sides of which are pro- 75 vided each with a flange whereby the ribs are secured to one side of said sheet, the said ribs projecting beyond one end of the said sheet and .having their opposite endsbehind or overhung by the opposite end of the sheet, 30

each rib having its projecting end contracted for insertion into the open 4end of a rib on a likeadjacent sheet.

8'. A sheet metal foundation for building construction the same comprising a continu- "5 ous metal sheet, and a plurality of spaced hollow triangular sheet metal ribs the sides of which arel provided each With a flange by means of which the said ribs are secured to one side of the said sheet, the said ribs pro- 90 j ecting beyond one end of the said sheet and having their opposite ends behind or overhung by the opposite end of the sheet, the projecting ends of the ribs being contracted for telescopic connection with the open ends 95 Jofthe ribs on adjacent sheets and such reduced ends projecting beyond the flanges of their respective ribs thereby to facilitate the assembling of adjacent sheets with telescopic connections between the ends of the ribs on 100 said sheets. and with the lower end of the upper sheet overlapping` the upper end of the lower sheet.

y9. A sheet metal foundation for building construction, the same comprising a 'metal 4 105 sheet having a plurality ofreinforcing ribs, substantially channel shaped in cross section, secured to and projecting from one face thereof, said ribs having flanges, each of said flanges having one surface lying in the lane 110 of said face, one of said flanges of one o said ribs proj ectig beyond one edge of said sheet. 10. A sheet metal foundation for building construction, the same comprising a metal .5 sheet having a plurality of reinforcing ribs, l lo substantially channel shaped in cross section, secured to and projecting from one face thereof, said ribs having flanges, each of said` flanges having one surface lying in the lane of said face, one of said flanges of one o said 120 ribs projecting beyond one edge of said sheet, y the opposite edge of said sheet having a downturned flangethereon.

11'. A foundation for building construction, comprising a sheet, and a plurality of, i2

spaced hollow ltriangular reinforcing ribs having sides converging toward said sheet `and flanges on said sldes by means of which said ribs are secured to one side of said sheet, one of said ribs projecting beyondv an edge 13 

